Famous Dave's wins Best in West Rib Cook-Off in Nevada

SPARKS, Nev. — The Minnesota-based Famous Dave's BBQ has claimed top honors at the 25th annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off in northern Nevada.

Famous Dave's, which finished third last year, beat 23 competitor's for this year's $7,500 winner's check Monday in Sparks where an estimated 500,000 people consumed more than 230,000 pounds of ribs through the holiday weekend.

Owner Dave Anderson said it was an "exhilarating" victory over America's top pit masters.

Three-time event winner Texas Outlaw BBQ of Elizabethtown, Ky., won $3,000 for second, followed by Kinder's Custom Meats of Concord, Calif., Porky 'N' Beans of Port St. Lucie, Fla., which also won for best sauce, and Desperado BBQ & Rib Co. of Hinkley, Ohio.